Blanks impresses in the outfield

The sight of a 6-foot-6, 285-pound Kyle Blanks catching fly balls left a favorable impression on outfielder Drew Macias.

"I think he's going to be fine," said Macias, who has played for both Triple-A Portland and the Padres this year and is rated by Padres manager Bud Black as the best all-around defender among Padres outfielders and prospects. "He's got enough athleticism, especially for his size."

First base is the only position Blanks has played for the Beavers, but the 22-year-old is practicing in left field before some games, said Grady Fuson, the Padres' director of scouting and player development.

Fuson described the results as "OK."

Scouts rate his speed as average or slightly below average, and his arm strength as slightly above average.

"He catches the ball when they hit it out there," Macias said. "It's still early. He's working at it. For the type of body he has, he's a good athlete. So I think he'll be fine."

First among Padres prospects in the San Diego Union-Tribune rankings entering 2009, Blanks batted .291 with four home runs, 13 walks and 20 strikeouts in his first 22 games with Portland.

Fuson said there is "no timetable" for him to appear in the outfield during a game, but if he does, it will be in left.

The Padres are not shopping third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff for trade, but the club has discussed various scenarios involving Kouzmanoff, left fielder Chase Headley and Blanks. Headley's best position is third base.

Blanks also is high on the list of scouts that are evaluating trade prospects within San Diego's farm system. Last year, the Nationals decided against trading their top pitching prospect, Jordan Zimmerman, for Blanks.

The man who is blocking Blanks at first base, Adrian Gonzalez, is cheaply under contract through 2011 but is rooting for the right-handed slugger.

"I want him to hit .330 with 40 home runs and 130 RBI in Triple-A or to have 20 and 80 at the break and push the envelope on the Padres," Gonzalez said in March. "That's a good situation for the Padres to be in. That's exactly what I want so that the Padres have to make a decision and whatever decision they make is good for them. You want the person behind you to do well and the person ahead of him to do well."

Triple-A

Will Venable, described by General Manager Kevin Towers as a potential successor to Brian Giles in right field, batted .284 with five home runs and 23 strikeouts in his first 81 at-bats at Portland. His throwing arm isn't well-suited to right field, but his speed is pretty good. Many evaluators are skeptical about his long-term defense in center.

Double-A

Center fielder Cedric Hunter's batting average has fallen from .419 to .185 in recent weeks. After playing center in only one of San Antonio's first 13 games, speedster Luis Durango got four starts there in eight games, pleasing persons close to him who said Hunter's fixed presence in center was costing Durango crucial development time. In his first 20 games, Durango batted .301 with two doubles, no homers, 12 walks and 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts.

Single-A

Pitcher Mat Latos, recovered from an ankle injury, struck out seven in an extended spring training game, Towers said, and joined Fort Wayne on Saturday. Lake Elsinore pitcher Wynn Pelzer, who is 3-0 with a 4.19 ERA, was clocked up to 95 mph in a recent outing.